Author Archives: spikekalashnikov

I live on Fell St in San Francisco. I have to write a little something to say how much I like living here. The houses are beautiful, most built around 1900 – old in the U.S. Just across the road … Continue reading →

The idea behind the camper is that I can travel to obscure parts of the U.S. to take pictures of birds and camp in some comfort. So, as soon as I get the camper, I set off for the Sacramento … Continue reading →

As  you know, there has been a devastating fire North East of San Francisco. Many have perished in the worst recorded forest fire in California history. I head straight towards it to have my 4 Wheel Camper fitted. https://fourwh.com  Strange … Continue reading →

San Francisco is covered in smoke from the deadly forest fires across the Bay. People wander around wearing  facemasks. Schools are closed. I had to go to the DMV to renew truck documents and find a milling, vaguely dangerous crowd. … Continue reading →

So, I am now in the USA and will remain here until March 2019. I have finally got a computer so can start posting again. Farewell Ginowan Marina. I have spent a memorable 10 months there working on the boat. … Continue reading →

The Okinawan climate is very hard on boats. The worst culprit is intense sun that dries out and bleaches all the woodwork. At the start of the project I gave all the wood 6 coats of wood treatment stuff and … Continue reading →

My jeans are always grubby. Just putting them through the cold wash, only option on Japan, does not remove the grime. On  a recent visit to the university, an esteemed colleague immediately comments on how grubby my jeans are. I … Continue reading →

The boat came with all her running rigging, right quality, right lengths, right eye splices  but the rope was black with mildew and generally tawdry.  Only the best for the Norfolk Gypsy!  So I decide to replace the old rope … Continue reading →

I go for a glorious morning walk along a beach close to the apartment.  The beach is strewn with big shards of pottery. Okinawa is covered in family tombs where ancestors’ bones are placed.  Early tombs were in caves and … Continue reading →

Almost exactly 20 years ago, I went to the Campbeltown Folk Festival. The lead bands were Shooglenifty and Flook. I had the opportunity to talk a lot to Brian Finnegan, one of Flook’s flute folk. During the concert he had … Continue reading →